Barristers vote to strike with court walkouts planned next week in Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Criminal barristers have voted to go on strike in a row over legal aid funding. Court walkouts are planned for Manchester next week - with fears the move will lead to the closure of courts across the country.

The development comes as the courts system continues to battle a backlog of cases after the coronavirus pandemic. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA), which represents barristers in England and Wales, said several days of court walkouts will begin from next week.

The promised industrial action, announced on Monday following a ballot of members, comes at a time of significant backlogs across the courts system.

They are the latest profession to go on strike, ahead of planned action by rail workers later this week, and reports of unrest among teaching staff and NHS employees. READ MORE: "I'm sorry for the hurt and on-going trauma...